A nation's preparations for a major tournament can be derailed by many things: player unrest, poor results, political upheaval, to name the most likely. But as Poland moves ever closer to its defining moment of modern times – co-hosting Euro 2012 with Ukraine – its people appear to have stumbled on a new way to throw plans off-track.

With seven months to go before their homeland becomes the centre of Europe's sporting universe Poland supporters are raging at the decision of their football association, the PZPN, to remove the white eagle – the country's oldest national symbol – from the team's kit in favour of its own logo, a less than inspiring red and yellow squiggle.

"Where's the eagle?" chanted the 30,000-plus crowd who gathered at the newly built Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw on Friday to see Poland, wearing their new kit for the first time, lose 2-0 in a friendly with Italy. "Screw the FA!" was another of their cat-calls. Indeed, the atmosphere became so toxic that the Poland captain, Jakub Blaszczykowski, later claimed it had affected the team's display against the 2006 World Cup winners. "We had nothing to do with the decision [to change the badge]," he said. "We're here to play and, if we're not supported, it's a problem for us."

The issue has even reached parliament, with the country's president, Bronislaw Komorowski, adding his weight on Friday, which just happened to be Poland's independence day, to the view that the eagle should never have been removed from the national kit. "This is a symbol that unites us," he said. "It's important for the people. I expect that somebody will explain why this happened."The timing of this PR gaffe – which the PZPN admit originated for purely commercial reasons – is particularly unfortunate, given Poland's form. Prior to Friday they had lost twice in 15 games and, in that period, beaten Argentina 2-1 and drawn 2-2 with Germany. They had scored eight goals in five games prior to the blank against Italy, when they would have scored again had Blaszczykowski converted an 85th‑minute penalty. They next face Hungary, in Poznan, on Tuesday.

The progress is not coincidental. Under Franciszek Smuda, the former defender who took over from Leo Beenhakker in October 2009 after Poland's failure to qualify for last year's World Cup, the team has steadily evolved into an effective counterattacking unit built around a young and stable spine. Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny is now the established No1 and the Borussia Dortmund trio of Lukasz Piszczek, Błaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski fill the key positions in defence, midfield and attack.

"Lewandowski is the star of the team," said Maciej Iwanski, a sports commentator for TVP, Poland's largest TV channel. "He has scored many times for Poland since making his debut [13 in 38 appearances] and the nation expects him to score at the Euros. There are worries defensively, mainly at set-pieces but Szczesny is proving to be a reliable keeper. He, too, could be important next year."

The outrage at the new kit aside, excitement is growing among Poles for Euro 2012. Poland's form, allied to home advantage – the team will have played at each of their four host-venue stadiums prior to June – has fuelled belief that they can qualify for the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time.

That is also the hope inside Ukraine, who, unlike Poland, have never previously taken part at a European championship. For their manager, Oleg Blokhin, however, who took over in April, the concerns right now are purely onfield.

Ukraine's form over the past year has been poor, with the team winning only three of their past 12 games and in that time losing 4-1 and 4-0 to France and Czech Republic, respectively – results that laid bare their defensive frailties. Those were on show again on Friday when Ukraine led 3-1 against Germany at the Olympic stadium in Kiev – where the final of Euro 2012 will be held – before drawing 3-3.

Injuries have been the problem for Blokhin – he was denied 10 players for Friday's friendly – and the 59-year-old will hope that once everyone is fit, his team, who face Austria on Tuesdayon Tuesday, will become sturdier at the back while maintaining a high-pressing approach in attack.

Blokhin's other worry centres around Andriy Shevchenko. The once talismanic striker has been beset by chronic back problems and poor form – the 35-year-old has scored only four times for Dynamo Kyiv this season and once in his last three international matches – and, though he is assured a place in Ukraine's Euro 2012 squad, the former Chelsea forward cannot be relied on to worry opposition defences.

"Blokhin recognises Shevchenko is no longer a cornerstone of the team," said the Ukrainian journalist Oleksandr Sereda. "He is still a leader but there are young players ready to take their place." That includes 22-year-old Andriy Yarmolenko, also of Dynamo Kyiv, who scored twice against Germany. "He is the most talented young player in Ukraine right now," Sereda said. "He can make the difference."

Young hope defines both Poland and Ukraine and, kit controversies aside, they are both looking to make an impact as the first former eastern bloc nations to host a major tournament since 1976. "This is the biggest thing to happen to our country, and maybe Ukraine, too, since independence," said Iwanski. "It's now for the teams to deliver."